History – Sigma Epsilon

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterly love, and finer womanhood. Five women dared to be different and founded an organization that was unlike any sorority created before it.

Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Myrtle Tyler Faithful , Viola Tyler Goings, Fannie Pettie Watts, and Pearl Anna Neal founded Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at Howard University on January 16, 1920.

These dynamic women created an organization that did not follow the beaten path, but they followed a road less traveled. Since its inception, Zeta Phi Beta has set a number of precedents. Zeta was the first sorority to organize in Africa (1948), form youth and auxiliary groups—Archonettes and Amicae, and be constitutionally bound to a brother fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Phi Beta has also established chapters in the Bahamas, Germany, and the Caribbean Islands. Zeta has more than 800 chapters throughout the world.

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Zeta Phi Beta History

Arizona Cleaver Stemons: Arizona Cleaver was the first president of Alpha chapter and the first national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She completed her graduate and post-graduate studies in the field of social work and was responsible for chartering numerous undergraduate and graduate chapters throughout the United
Pearl Anna Neal: After graduating from Howard University's Conservatory of Music, Founder Neal continued her studies at the Julliard School of Music. In 1938, she was the first black woman in New York to earn a master's degree in music from Columbia University. An extremely accomplished musician, Founder Neal taught music in North Carolina public schools and served as a director of seniors majoring in music at Teachers College in Winston Salem, NC.
Myrtle Tyler Faithful: Myrtle Tyler was the second national president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and blood sister to Viola Tyler. A high school mathematics and English teacher, Founder Tyler was an active member of Alpha Zeta chapter in Baltimore,
Viola Tyler Goings: Viola Tyler graduated from Howard University with a teaching degree and a major in math. She taught school in Ohio for many years and was always very active in community affairs.
Fannie Pettie Watts Fannie Pettie graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and taught junior and senior high schools in Savannah, Georgia. She was credited with organizing two additional Zeta chapters and had active membership in Delta Alpha Zeta chapter.